Bottle-capping machine.



L. R. N. cAa-vm'oi BOTTLE CAPPIWG magnum. APPLICATION men Nov. 21, 1915.

' Patented m4,- 191?;-

5 SHEETS-8HEET I.

amwmi ,Lmwgsa L. R. N. CARVALHO.

BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-27.1915.

Patented Dec. 4, 191?.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2- o 7 w WW A w wwwwzm L. R. N. CARVALHO.

BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 27,1915- L wfigfie I Patented Dec. 4,191?

r 1 5 SHEETS-SHEET 4- L. H. N. CAFZVALHQx BOTTLE CAPHNG MA'CHiNE.

APPLICAUQN men NOV. 27. 19.15.

1,249,925. A Patented Dec. 4, 191-7.

5 SHEETSSHEET 5- @51 M 61mm,

A anna err ic-n.

LESLIE R. 1v. CARVALHO, or BROOKLYN, new YORK.

BOTTLE-CAPPING MACHINE.

eashes.

To all whom it may concern Beit known that I, Lnsmr. R. Cas

' VALHO, residing atLrooklyn, in the county This invention relatesto a bottle capping machine and more particularly to a new and improved machine for applying screw caps to receptacles such as '-b0ttl es,']ars-and the like.

One of the objects of theinvention is to provide mechanism designed to more expeditiously apply aficap to ja bottle than t has been possible to do Withmachines' or devices heretofore constructed.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide means whereby a cap designed to effect .a tight closure upon a receptacle may be I applied to such receptacle with the desired degree of pressure automatically and without danger of injuring either the receptacle or the closure,.' A y ,Another object of the invention is to provide mechanism for mechanically applying a lacquered, painted, decorated, or otherwise coated cap to a receptacle without injuring or defacing the outer surface of the cap.

I Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved means for applying a screw threaded cap provided with a'jlining or sealing member, such that the lining or, sealing member will be pressed against the mouth of the receptacle with the required amount of pressure to form a tight seal.

A further object is toiprovide mechanism, as above, which will operate substantiallyarrangements of parts and applications of principles, constituting the invention; and the scope of protection contemplated will be indicated in the appended claims.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. a, 191W.

. Application filed November 27, 1915. Serial No. 63,752.

In the accompanying drawings which are to be taken as a part of this specification,

and in which I have showna preferred form of embodiment of the invention:

Figure 1 represents a front elevational view, partly in section, of a machine con structed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 represents a side elevational view of the machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 represents a sectional view of the major part of the mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2, showing one type of'a receptacle with a cap positioned thereon, ready to be operated upon by the machine.

Fig; 4; represents an enlarged sectional.

viewof a part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3, the parts, however, being in a different position.

Fig 5 represents a plan view partly in,

section, taken substantially on the line VV ofv Fig. 3, looking in the direction 'of the arrows.

Fig; 6 represents a sectional view taken substantially on the line 'VI-VI oij-Fig. 3. Fig. 7 represents a view in section, on an enlarged scale, of one of the clamping jaws -which is adapted to grasp the cap.

Fig, 8 represents a similar view of the same part of the mechanism, with the parts in a difi'erent position.

Fig. 9 represents a sectional view of a different embodiment of themeans for grasping the cap; and i Fig. 10 represents a View 9, with the parts in a different position.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the various figures of the drawings.

Referring now to the embodiment of my similar to Fig.

invention illustrated in the drawings, the

reference numeral 1 indicates a suitable support or platform. 2 indicates a bracket member which may be secured-to the platform 1, in'any convenient manner, said bracket being adapted to support certain parts of the operating mechanism herein-- after to be described. 3 denotes a stanchion which is supported upon the rear of theplatform 1, and which rises from the platform so bottle 7; the cap 8 being shown stance comprising angled clips (3, shownin Figs. 1 and 2. These clips are adapted, when receptacle is moved into the proper position to be operated upon, to hold-such receptacle in a redetermined pos t on with relation to the devices that are to loe employed in applying the cap thereto. In the present instance the receptacle 15 shown as a I positloned uponthe upper end thereof. y

The table is supported upon a post 9, which is adapted to slide in a bearing 10, provided in the end of the bracket 2. A collar 11. is slidably mounted upon the post 9 and is provided with oppositely extending parts 12, adapted to receive pins 13. which pins are engaged by the forked ends 14 of a lever The lever 15 is journaled intermediate its ends upon a stud 16 formed upon the'bracket 2. The opposite end of the lever 151's pivotally attached to a rod 17, and the lower end of this rod is aflixed to suitable tree-die 103.. This trcadle is adapted to be engaged and manipulated 'by'the foot of the operator, in a manner which will, be well understood. r .j

Inter-posed between the collar 11 and the under surface of the table 5 is a compressionspring ld This spring encircles the post 9.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that a downward movement of the rod 1'7, upder the influence of the treadle operated bya'the foot of the operative, wilL' through the lever, 15, and sprin 18 cause thetable 5 to be lifted through Lieaperture 4. as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings. 4

.llxtending laterally from the braeket2 is an arm 19 through which is threaded a bolt 20, said bolt projecting upwardly through said arm so that its upper end may act as a stop for the outer end of the lever 15 when the sanieis swung by the I'od.17.- This bolt being adjustable, operates to determine the extent of the upward movement of the table 5, J am nuts 21 are adapted to hold the bolt inany adjusted position. A rest 5* is fitted to support the table .5 is in its normal position,

The bracket 3 has a. laterally extending arm 22 which is provided with a bearing 23. Rotatable and reciprocable in this bearing is a clutch housing 524, said housing being provided with an annular laterally extendin'g flange :25, which is adapted to rest on the uppenhearing supface 26, of the arm 22.

connected with a motor,

when the latter 1 ing head 39 rounded off, as shown.

Leagues The upper portion of the flange 25 has an annular friction surface-27, the purpose I of which will be apparent hereinafter.

The clutch housing 24 is hollow. (see Fig 4), and apair of cars 28 are arrangedthere in, said ears being apertured, to receive a pivot pin 29. A second pair of ears 30 with a pivot pin 31 is arranged directly opposite the ears 28. The pivot pins 29 and 31 pref erably extend loosely through one I, t the ears and are threaded into the oppos te' ear so that they are retained in position. The wall of the housing is apcrturcd, as at 32 and 33,

- to facilitate the insertion of the pivot pins 29 and 31.

Carried upon each of the pivot pins 2 9 and 31 is a clutclrmember 34, each of which is provided with an arm connected with a operatin head 39. The clutch members 34 .short lever arm 36, one'end of which is po- I are simi arly constructed and mounted with A in the housing 24, and are arrangedlln op posed relation, as clearly shown infl'the drawings.

ent instance, is rigidly connected with a shaft 40 which is slidably and rotatably mounted in a bearing sleeve 41 fixed, as set screw 43, within the head 42 of the bracket 3. The lower end of the sleeve 4-1 is extended to provide a bearing 45, upon which is 'rotatably mounted a adapted to receive. a belt 47 which may be or other source of power.

41 to retain the pulley againstdisplacement.

The clutch operating head 39, in the press-- A flange 44 is formed upon the sleeve 1 ulle 46 p 5 f The clutch operating head 39 is encircled by an annular friction ring 48 provided with a friction surface 49. which is located ,di rectly dish pf leather or other suitable material, is positioned between the surfaces 27 and 49,

The friction ring 48 and the clutch op'erat-.

5253 are connected with the pulley 46 and depend therefrom, whereas the contact pins 54-55 are mounted upon the clutch operatand extend upwardly therefrom. The ends of both sets of pins are preferably above the. friction surface-27, 'of the 1 flange 25 of the clutch head. A'friction the upper surface of the clutch operating head. When, however, the clutch operating head is raised, as will be presently set forth, i the pair of pins -l-55 are carried lnto'the path of thepins52-53. A driving connection is thus established between the pulley andthe cliftch operating head.

A pin 56 is provided upon the friction ring 48, for engaging against theunder surface of the pulley -16, for a purpose presently apparent.

The friction ring 4-8 has an annular extension 57, which is received within the upper end of the clutch head 24 and adapted to maintain the parts in engagement at all times.

A compression spring. 60 is interposed be- .tween the lower end of the sleeve 41 and the clutch operating head 39, said spring be ing disposed to encircle the intervening portion 59 of the shaft l0. Preferably a recess 58 is formed in the upper surface of the clutch operating head into which the lower end of the spring is seated so as to facilitate the use of a longer spring than would otherwise be possible. This spring serves to maintam the clutch operating head pressed downwardly when not in use, in which position the gripping members 34 shown in Fig.3.

An aperture (51 is formed vertically through the clutch operating head and upwardly through the portion 59 of the shaft l0, and a plunger rod 62 is slidably mounted within said aperture. The lower end of the plunger rod projects downwardly beneath the lower surfaceof the clutch operating head and is fitted with a ball bearing disk comprising an upper member 63 and a lower member 64, between which balls 65 are arranged. The, under surface of the lower member 64 is adapted to be engaged by the upper surface of tbeficap to-be operated upon and is freely and easily rotatable with respect to the rod 62. r

A light compression spring 67 is interare held open, as

posed between the lower end of the clutch jects laterally therefrom within a slot 69 formed in the shaft 4'0, said pin serving to retain. the plunger rod against displace ment and serving also ward movement thereof.

.A spur gear 74 is slidably and non-rotatably mounted upon the shaft 4 0 above the proper cooperative to limit the downupper end of the sleeve 41, said gea r being connected to said shaft by means of a key 70, which is carried by the gear and projects into an elongated slot 71 formed longitudinally of the shaft. A lug 75, carried by an extension 80' of the head 42, is arranged above the gear to maintain it against vertical movement along the shaft 40.

Meshing with this spur gear is a gear wheel. 7 6 suitably mounted for rotation upon a stud 77 carried upon the head42.

' The upper surface of the gear 76 is shaped o provide a cam 78. A bell crank lever 79 is mounted upon the-extension '80, said lever having the end of one of its arms received in an annular recess 81 formed in a collar 82, which is fixed to the upper end of the shaft 40. The end of the remaining arm of the bell crank lever is provided with an antifriction' roller 83 disposed to engage the cam '78.

One of the more important problems to be overcome in the production of a-machine for threading closures, of the type herein suggested, upon receptacles, is to provide a means which will not only efficiently and ex-' peditiously seat the cap uniformly and tightly upon the receptacle, but to provide a nieans ilvhich will perform this operation without defacing or mutilating thedecora- These clutch members may be of varyingv design according to the particular type or style of cap or closure upon which they are designed to operate, but in the present instance they each comprise a box-like structure 84. The construction of each of the clutch members is identical and a further description of one only will suflice.

A pin 85 extends longitudinally within the structure, being preferably threaded at one end, as at 86, to prevent displacement. This pin serves as a slide for the gripping jaw87, said jaw being apertured to receive the pin, as clearly shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

, The working surface of the jaw is provided with deep threads having a pitch correspending to the pitch of the threads on the cap or closure. These threads, as 88, are relatively sharper than the configuration of the threads on the cap and the outer ends are preferablyrounded, as at 89. The depth of the threads is designed to be such that the rounded surfaces 89am the only portions which come into contact with the surface of r the cap. Centering springs 90 are dis osed themselves within the hollows of the threads on the cap.

Such a relative movement is clearly depicted by comparison between the disclosures in Figs. 7 and 8. i

A modification of the gripping jaws is "shown in Figs. 9 and 10 of the drawings, wherein those parts are shown as being con-' structed of a relatively soft material, su'ch for'instance as india rubber, indicated at 92, the construction being such that when the gripping jaws are moved into engagement with the screw cap the yielding character of the material of which the jaws are constructed will, operate to cause them to hu closely to the configuration of the cap, as shown in Fig. 10. l

,Having thus described the construction of my improved machine, the operation thereof may now be understood.

in describing this operation it will be understood that a receptacle, such as the botand in proper position thereon which is dc) tcrmined by the engagement of the. walls of the bottle with the, clips 6. A cap 8 has been dropped upon. the neck of the bottle over the mouth thereof, as clearly shown in Figs. 3. and 3. This cap is now/ready to be screwed home upon the threads of the bottle neck.

It will'be assumed also that the driving mechanism is operating through the belt 47 to drive the pulley 46 at a predetermined speed. It'will be further assumed that the --parts are in the position shown in Figs. 1,

2 and 3 of the drawings, and that the cam 78 and the anti-friction roller 83 are in the position shown in the full lines of Fig. 3.-

The operator first depresses the treadle 101, causing the table 5 to move upward, which operation Carries the top of the screw cap 8 into eugagemcnt'with the disks (33, (54. Further upward movement of the table causes the bottleoap 8 to move the disks 63, 64 upward against the tension of the relatively weak spring (56, until its upper surface in engagement with the under surface of the clutch ppcratmg head Continued upward movement of the hot ,7 tie cap causes the clutch operating head 38 to move upward, thereby swinging the clutch members 34 towardcach other to grip the cap. The pins 52*53 and 54- 55 are no yet in working engagement.

Further upward movement of the bottle cap, carries the pins into .Worl'cing engagemus cals between the friction ring 48 and the. flange '25, causing the bottle cap to be screwed,

downwardly upon the bottle neck. iWhen the swinging movement of the jaws is arrestedb engagement with the bottle neck the housing Edi begins to move upwardly and lifts the friction ring 48 until the pin 56 engages the under surface of the pulley 46. The upward movement of the friction ring 48 being thus arrested, any further pres sure upon thc trcadle 101 will increase the degree of friction between the ring 48 and flange 25 and thereby determine the degree of tightness with which the cap is screwed upon the bottle neck. understood that the friction between parts 48 and 25 will at no time exceed the power It will of course be of the grip of the jaws upon the surfaces home, the bell crank lever 79 stan s in the position indicated by dotted'lines in Fig. 3,

havingbeeii brought to that. position from tle'i', has been positioned upon the table 5;,

the position shown in full. lines in said figure by the upward movement of the shaft i-(l and by contact with the inclined portionlOt of the cam 78, which latter is actuated by the pinion .74 when the shaft 40 is rotated as set V crat'ive engagement, and, preferably, with the pin 56 abutting the under surface of the pulley 46.

After the cap has been firmly screwed.

home, or, in other words, after the clutch opcrating head has been caused to rotate for a given number of t1mes',.t'he bell crank l'efaee-Ql of the detachable cam member 95 which is associated with the'cam 78, (see Fig. 5). This movement of the bell crank slides the shaft 40 downwardly so as to disengage the pins 52, 53, and 54:, 55, and pernut the clutch head to again rest upon the surface 26. This movement also forces the ing on its spring 18, and simultaneously swings apart the gripping jaws.

At this juncture the operator may release his pressure upon the t'readle and alow this bottle'and cap downwardly, the table 5 yieldyer is returned again to the full line positron,- by engagement with the inclined sur.-

' comprising,

screwing the cp onto the bottle, and means dition for acting upon a second bottle and cap.

It will accordingly be seen th'at I have'provided means particularlyadapted to obtain, among others, all objects and ends above pointed out in an exceedingly efiicient man ner. The mechanism operates substantially automatically, it being merely necessary for the operator to place the receptacles with the cap in proper position upon the table and then operate the treadle. All the operations are taken care of automatically.

It will be understood that various changes may be resorted to in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do not intend to be limited to the details herein shown and described except as they may be specifically included in the claims.

What 1 claim is:

1. Apparatus of the character described comprising, a. bottle support, means for screwing the cap onto thebottle, and means for moving the bottle support to actuate the screwing means. 2. Apparatus of the character described comprising, a bottle. support, means -for screwing the rap onto the bottle, and means for moving the support for carrying the bottle and cap into engagement\ with the screwing means for actuating the latter.

8. Apparatus of the character described' comprising, a bottle support, means for screwing the cap onto the bottle, and-means for moving the support for carrying the bottle and cap into engagement with the crewing means for causing the latter to grip the cap and screw it home.

4:. Apparatus of the character described a bottle support, means for for moving, the support for carrying the bottle and cap into engagement with the screwing means for actuating the latter so as to cause it to first grip the cap and then rotate for screwing the cap home.

5. Apparatus of the character described comprisin a bottle support, means for screwing the cap onto the bottle, means'for moving the support for carrying the bottle and cap into engagement with the screwing means for actuating the latter, and means for moving the bottle and cap out of engagement with the screwing means.

6. Apparatus of the character described comprising, a bottle support, means for screwing 'the cap on to the bottle, manually operable means for movingthe, support for carrying the bottle and cap into engagement with the screwing means for actuating the latter, and automatic means for moving the bottle and cap out of engagement with the screwing means.

7. Apparatus of the character described comprising, means for gripping the cap, and yieldingly vdriven mechanism 'for rotating the gripping means in order to permit a slip after the cap lia's been screwed home.

8. Apparatus of the character described comprising, means for gripping the cap and trictionally driven mechanism for rotating the gripping means in order to permit a slip after the cap has been screwed home.

9. Apparatus of the'character described comprising, a bottle support, a constantly rotating element, means for gripping the cap, and means for engaging the gripping means with the rotating element when the former is in' engagement with the cap, for screwing the cap home.

10. Apparatus of the character described comprising, a bottle support, a constantly rotating element, means for gripping the cap, and means for moving the bottle and cap into engagement with the gripping cans for causing the latter to engage the ca and also engage the rotating element, to

gripping means out of engagement with the rotating element after the cap has been screwed ome.

12. Apparatus of the character'described comprising, a bottle support, a constantly rotating element, means for gripping the cap, means for moving the bottle and cap into engagement withthe gripping means for causing the latter to engage the cap and also engage the rotating element, to screw the cap home, and automatic means for throwing the gripping means out of engagement with the rotating element after the cap has been screwed home,

13. Apparatus of the characterdescribed comprising, .a bottle support, a constantly rotating element, means for gripping the cap, and manually operable means for moving the bottle and cap into engagement with i the gripping means for causing the latter to engage the cap and also engage the rotating element, to screw the cap home, and automatic means for throwing the gripping means out of engagement with the rotat' 1g element after the cap has been screwed home.

14;. In an apparatus of the character described, gripping means for the'cap, said means being yieldingly mountedfor automatically adjusting itself to the contour of the cap upon engagement therewith.

15. In an apparatus of the character described, gripping means for a screw cap, yieldingly mounted in the s'uppcrting memsaid means being fashionedwith a thread berforz'iutmnatic adjustment with respect to and being yieldingiy mounted in order to the co ntour of thecap upon engagement permit its thread to autmimtically mate with therewith. r v

5 the thread on the cap upon engagement In testimony whereof I affix my signature 15 therewith. V t in the presenceof two Witnesses.

i 16. In an apparatus of the character de- LESLIER, N."CARVALHO. scribed, gripping means for the cap, said Witnesses:

means comprising a supporting member and 1m SKUTCH,

10 a c'ontact member, the contact member being ROBERT A R SSELL, 

